UCAS Information Evening

UCAS Information UCAS Information EveningEvening

Nicholas QuaileNicholas Quaile

Head of CareersHead of Careers

Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation

Post A-Level OptionsPost A-Level Options Importance of Year 14Importance of Year 14 Choosing a CourseChoosing a Course The UCAS SystemThe UCAS System FinancesFinances The Role of ParentsThe Role of Parents

Post A-Level OptionsPost A-Level Options

TeacherTraining

SpecialistCourses

RepeatA-Levels

Employment

Colleges ofF&HE

University

After A-Levels

Importance of Year 14Importance of Year 14

SacrificeSacrifice RelaxationRelaxation Organised StudyOrganised Study DecisionsDecisions Personal Action PlanningPersonal Action Planning

Personal Action PlanningPersonal Action Planning List 1: Personal List 1: Personal

StatementsStatements

Subjects and Subjects and ActivitiesActivities

In School and OutsideIn School and Outside Work ExperienceWork Experience Show Strengths and Show Strengths and

AchievementsAchievements Build on what you are Build on what you are

good atgood at

List 2List 2

Goals for the futureGoals for the future University/HE?University/HE? What do they want What do they want

out of this?out of this? Progression beyond Progression beyond

degreedegree Degree not always Degree not always

necessary!necessary!

Other OptionsOther Options

Go directly into employmentGo directly into employmentWork and part-time study Work and part-time study combinationcombination

NVQ/HND/Foundation Degree NVQ/HND/Foundation Degree leading to degree levelleading to degree level

Choosing A Higher Education Choosing A Higher Education CourseCourse

What’s theBest type

Of course?

ContinueWith or Change subjects

SingleJoint

CombinedMajor/minor

EnjoyableInterestingStimulating

Benefits of Broader CoursesBenefits of Broader Courses

Try something new, interesting and Try something new, interesting and challengingchallenging

Keeps more options openKeeps more options open Flexibility to change career path later onFlexibility to change career path later on Not necessary to specialise until Post-Not necessary to specialise until Post-

Graduate levelGraduate level You aren’t necessarily tied to a degree You aren’t necessarily tied to a degree

because of your A-Level choices!because of your A-Level choices!

Other Considerations when Other Considerations when Choosing Universities and Choosing Universities and

CoursesCourses Teaching Methods:Teaching Methods: Class based, Lab work, Class based, Lab work,

Field Work, Assignment Weightings, etcField Work, Assignment Weightings, etc Where to Study:Where to Study: Type of Institution, Type of Institution,

Specialist or Multi-Faculty, Size, Location, Specialist or Multi-Faculty, Size, Location, Accommodation, Social Life, Work LoadAccommodation, Social Life, Work Load

Identify the correct route rather than Identify the correct route rather than follow the crowd!follow the crowd!

It is important to feel comfortable in your It is important to feel comfortable in your surroundings and enjoy your time at surroundings and enjoy your time at university!university!

Taking ActionTaking Action

Talk to Friends, Teachers, Family, Talk to Friends, Teachers, Family, Careers StaffCareers Staff

Research career guidance books, Research career guidance books, university prospectuses, etcuniversity prospectuses, etc

Note the entry requirements and Note the entry requirements and be be realistic!realistic!

Consider financial impact of choicesConsider financial impact of choices Keep in mind that it is more than just Keep in mind that it is more than just

the grades in the prospectusthe grades in the prospectus

The Qualifications AvailableThe Qualifications Available

DegreeDegree Usually 3-4 years in durationUsually 3-4 years in duration Vocational or Non-VocationalVocational or Non-Vocational Single, Joint, Combined, Major/Minor, Single, Joint, Combined, Major/Minor,

SandwichSandwich Continue with or Change SubjectsContinue with or Change Subjects

Qualifications Available Qualifications Available (Cont.)(Cont.)

HND, Associate Bachelor, Foundation HND, Associate Bachelor, Foundation DegreeDegree

Usually 1-2 years durationUsually 1-2 years duration Minimum 1 A-Level pass with, usually, one Minimum 1 A-Level pass with, usually, one

other subject examinedother subject examined Offered as single subject but may involve Offered as single subject but may involve

elements of other subjectselements of other subjects Taught in manner relevant to employers’ Taught in manner relevant to employers’

needs or as preparation for full degree needs or as preparation for full degree coursecourse

How This All Fits TogetherHow This All Fits Together

Subject(s)Chosen

InstitutionsChosen

Apply!

Method ofStudy

The UCAS SystemThe UCAS System

Role: UCAS Role: UCAS facilitatesfacilitates the admission the admission of students to Higher Education of students to Higher Education

It is purely an administrative body It is purely an administrative body and makes and makes nono decisions on the decisions on the suitability of candidates for a coursesuitability of candidates for a course

Deals with c.580,000 applications per Deals with c.580,000 applications per yearyear

The Application SystemThe Application System

Use of Use of applyapply web based application web based application Single form used for all applicationsSingle form used for all applications Completed on screen over the internetCompleted on screen over the internet Forms then electronically transmitted to Forms then electronically transmitted to

UCASUCAS After processing student receives After processing student receives

acknowledgement letter and applicant acknowledgement letter and applicant numbernumber

Students can track application progress on-Students can track application progress on-lineline

The SchemeThe Scheme

Student completes form in Autumn term, Student completes form in Autumn term, before October Half Termbefore October Half Term

Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, veterinary Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, veterinary and Stranmillis must be completed earlierand Stranmillis must be completed earlier

Electronic payment made and forms sent to Electronic payment made and forms sent to UCASUCAS

UCAS sends one copy to each institution UCAS sends one copy to each institution named on the formnamed on the form

Offers come back in Spring term directly to Offers come back in Spring term directly to studentstudent

Rejection

Grades/Points

Unconditional

ConditionalF & I

Types OfOffers

ASAS A2A2 Tariff Tariff ScoreScore

AA 120120

BB 100100

CC 8080

AA DD 6060

BB 5050

CC EE 4040

DD 3030

EE 2020

Replying to OffersReplying to Offers

The student waits until all offers are inThe student waits until all offers are in Replies must be made as soon as Replies must be made as soon as

possible after this in order to secure possible after this in order to secure placesplaces

Final reply date is indicated in Final reply date is indicated in TrackTrack Failure to reply will lead to loss of all Failure to reply will lead to loss of all

offersoffers The student can only hold TWO, a The student can only hold TWO, a firmfirm

and an and an insuranceinsurance

Firm Acceptance: A WarningFirm Acceptance: A Warning

A student can accept ONE offer as his/her A student can accept ONE offer as his/her FIRM choiceFIRM choice

Once done the student cannot change their Once done the student cannot change their minds on this unless they withdraw minds on this unless they withdraw completely from the schemecompletely from the scheme

An INSURANCE is taken in case the firm is An INSURANCE is taken in case the firm is missedmissed

Again the student is committed to this should Again the student is committed to this should they miss their firmthey miss their firm

All other offers must then be DECLINEDAll other offers must then be DECLINED

Success or Failure?Success or Failure?

If the student receives the required If the student receives the required grades for the firm then they are grades for the firm then they are committed to thatcommitted to that

If they miss the firm but meet the If they miss the firm but meet the insurance then they are committed insurance then they are committed to thatto that

Applicants who miss Applicants who miss bothboth offers go offers go automatically into CLEARINGautomatically into CLEARING

UCAS UCAS ExtraExtra

Runs between March and JuneRuns between March and June

Allows for late FIRST TIME applicationsAllows for late FIRST TIME applications

OR re-application by those who get no OR re-application by those who get no offers AND have used ALL applicationsoffers AND have used ALL applications

How Clearing WorksHow Clearing Works

This system is there to match This system is there to match unsuccessful candidates to places unsuccessful candidates to places still available after still available after confirmationconfirmation

Those who did not apply earlier may Those who did not apply earlier may do so through clearingdo so through clearing

Students must be proactive here. Students must be proactive here. Check the clearing lists, phone the Check the clearing lists, phone the universities and secure a placeuniversities and secure a place

How Successful Is Clearing?How Successful Is Clearing? By no means 100%By no means 100% 2 Main Factors:2 Main Factors: 1. Number and type of places 1. Number and type of places

availableavailable 2. The student’s own initiative to 2. The student’s own initiative to

gain a placegain a place

Will be ‘interviewed’ on the phone and Will be ‘interviewed’ on the phone and offered a place or notoffered a place or not

CAO: Irish UniversitiesCAO: Irish Universities

This system is different and has different This system is different and has different deadlinesdeadlines

Information and prospectuses don’t arrive in Information and prospectuses don’t arrive in school until late Septemberschool until late September

Students can make up to 10 applications Students can make up to 10 applications which must be in genuine order of preferencewhich must be in genuine order of preference

Offers are not made until results are Offers are not made until results are published in Augustpublished in August

Places are offered based on mathematical Places are offered based on mathematical formulaeformulae

Student FinancesStudent Finances

Fees, Loans & Grant Rates in line with Fees, Loans & Grant Rates in line with inflation!inflation!

Income assessment for parentsIncome assessment for parents ‘‘Cohabiting partner/spouse’ income Cohabiting partner/spouse’ income

assessedassessed Steps to ApplicationSteps to Application Costs & Help AvailableCosts & Help Available Parental ContributionsParental Contributions Other Financial HelpOther Financial Help

Steps to ApplicationSteps to Application

Online application systemOnline application system Combined Financial Assessment Combined Financial Assessment

Form & Student Loan Form: PN1Form & Student Loan Form: PN1 The sooner you apply the better, The sooner you apply the better,

(c.20(c.20thth June is normal deadline) June is normal deadline)

Costs & Help AvailableCosts & Help Available

There are 2 main costs: Fees & Living There are 2 main costs: Fees & Living CostsCosts

Support for Fees: Fee LoanSupport for Fees: Fee Loan

Support for Living Costs available from: Support for Living Costs available from: LoansLoans GrantsGrants ScholarshipsScholarships BursariesBursaries

Variable Fees (2010 Variable Fees (2010 Figures)Figures)

FEES: Up to £3,290 pa in England & N. Ireland

Different in Scotland & Wales

ALL students now pay this regardless of income: Use of Fee Loan

These are deferred until the April after graduation, so nothing payable ‘up-front’

Must be earning more than £15,000

Direct from salary as TAX

Living ExpensesLiving Expenses

Student Loans (2010/11 figures)Student Loans (2010/11 figures)

Max. Available is £4,840Max. Available is £4,840 (£6,780 for London/£3,750 for home (£6,780 for London/£3,750 for home

students)students) 75% automatic/25% means tested75% automatic/25% means tested High income backgrounds = Reduced High income backgrounds = Reduced

maximummaximum (eg. £53,448 or more = £2,810 max.)(eg. £53,448 or more = £2,810 max.)

GrantsGrants

Income less than £19,203: FULL GRANTIncome less than £19,203: FULL GRANT NI: £3,475: Student Loan REDUCED by NI: £3,475: Student Loan REDUCED by

thisthis Sliding scale to £41,065+: NO GRANT Sliding scale to £41,065+: NO GRANT

and only 75% available from loanand only 75% available from loan Universities must also contribute:Universities must also contribute: Bursaries & ScholarshipsBursaries & Scholarships Varies from place to place: see web sitesVaries from place to place: see web sites

The Role of ParentsThe Role of Parents

AssistingWith choices

MotivatingWhen Morale

Is low

EncourageStudy

Be GoodListeners

Parents canHelp

Some Useful Web SitesSome Useful Web Sites

www.ucas.comwww.ucas.com www.qaa.ac.ukwww.qaa.ac.uk www.hefc.ac.ukwww.hefc.ac.uk www.tqi.ac.ukwww.tqi.ac.uk www.studentfinanceni.co.ukwww.studentfinanceni.co.uk www.ulster.ac.ukwww.ulster.ac.uk www.qub.ac.ukwww.qub.ac.uk

Thank You Thank You